Arts & Culture

Temecula Valley is a destination alive with theater, public art, live music and art festivals. The creative culture of the Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country is on display year-round. Live music is a given at most wineries in the summertime, and Old Town Temecula practically hums with performances all year, from theater to symphony, honky-tonk to rhythm and blues. Pechanga Resort & Casino boasts a performance space-and acts-second to none in our valley. Around town, too, works of public art and festivals celebrate the arts.

OLD TOWN

The indigenous Luiseno Indians were known for their basket-making. A fountain in front of City Hall commemorates our heritage, emulating a basket in the Luiseno tradition. “The Emigrant Trail” mosaic art, “History of Temecula” mural, and the Old Town arches also provide visual cues to our cultural roots. Festivals celebrating fine and domestic arts and crafts line the streets through-out the year. And live performances of theater, symphony and modern music round out the culture of our downtown district.

There are several public art exhibits in Old Town Temecula: The Civic Center main lobby on Mercedes Street & Main Street, “The Gallery” at The Merc on Main Street and “Art off the Walls” the first Friday each month from 6pm-9pm in the Truax building on the corner of Second Street & Mercedes Street .

Live Music from acoustic to bands play at various restaurants and wine tasting rooms, especially on the weekends.

WINE COUNTRY

Wine country offers entertainment well beyond wine tasting. Consider taking a wine, cooking or even painting class in the barrel room or vines. And don’t miss world-class jazz, rising-star musicians, popular cover bands and Shakespeare in the Vines among the vineyards and under the stars. Concerts at the Wineries occur throughout the year but predominately in the summer months. Check the wine country calendar of events to find what’s playing during your stay,

AROUND TOWN

Ponder public art while feed turtles and ducks at the Duck Pond located just east of I-15 on Rancho California Road. View the “Singing in the Rain” sculpture, a gift from Denmark; “Letters Home” memorial, commemorating soldiers’ missives from frontlines throughout time; and a Japanese garden. A few blocks away, the Ronald Reagan Sports Park hosts a life-size statue of former president Ronald Reagan as a tribute to him publicly recognizing Temecula’s “can-do spirit.” Catch Friday night family movies and Thursday night outdoor concerts here during the summer.